Assembling machine



May 20, 1941. J, LANCASTER 2,242,251

AS SEMBLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 20, 1941 J. 'r. LANCASTER 2,242,251

ASSEMBLING MACHINE v Filed Nov. 30, 1959 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 .v N/EA/TURL LL M 7...

May-20, 1941. J, N s 2,242,251

ASSEMIBLINAG MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1939' 14 She'ts-Sheet 3 AWE/v70 W 77% 4 M (4%; 1

May 20, 1941.

J. T. LANCASTER ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1959 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Wi /WM; r

AS SEMBLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1939- -14 Sheets-Sheet. 6

i176 1313 IX 132 $168526 22 I //vl /\'/m/ 24 Fig). I T

May 20, 1941. J. T. LANCASTER $2 1 ASSEMBLING mound:

Filed Nov. 30, 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 J. 'r. LANCASTER I 2,242,251 ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 60. 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet a' 30a WI/ENTER. w 1 12;;

30 -2: fly lmwa 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 N l/ENTER w-L 'TJW as J. 1'. LANCASTER ASSEMBLING mourns Filed Nov 30 1939 May 20, 1941. J. 'r. LANCASTER ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Nov] 30, was

14 Sheets-Sheet 10 May 20, 1941.

J. 'r. LANCASTER ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed NOV. 30, 1939 l4 Sheets-Sheet ll y 20, 1941- J. 'r. LANCfASTER 2,242,251

ASSEMBLI'NG MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1939 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 y I J.'T. LANCASTER 5 I ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1939 I -1 4 sheefls -sheet 1s J. LANCASTER 2,242,251 ASSEMBLI'NG MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1939 14 Sl i eets-Sheet 14 May 20, 1941.

Patented May 20, 1941' ES PAT'E OFFICE I nssnrmnme MACHINE John '1. Lancaster, Newton, Mesa, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Borough of Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application November so, 1939, Serial No. 306,776

620mm. (c1. 12-4) This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of shoes and is illustrated herein asembodied in a machine for assembling shoe parts upon lasts. V

It is customary in assembling lined uppers and molded counters to first apply an adhesive to the counter and then insert the counter manually between the upper and the lining. The operator presses the lining against the inserted counter and a last is then inserted. The proper positioning of the counter in the upper is dependent upon the skill of the operator and if the rear portion of the counter is not properly alined with the back seam of the upper this condition will exist during the lasting of the shoe and the resulting shoe will not have the desired appearance. It is an object of the present invention to provide mechanism for inserting a counter in a lined upper in such a manner that this difficulty is overcome. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, means are provided for supporting a lined upper for the reception of a counter and means are also provided for supporting a counter. After the counter and upper have been properly placed in their respective supporting means, mechanism under the control of the operator moves the counter supporting means to move the counter into the upper in a predetermined position with respect thereto. The upper is supported in a vertical position with the forepart extending downwardly which facilitates the placing of the upper on its support, the heel partthereof being supported by grippers engaging the top margin and the lasting margin thereof. The counter support when positioned to receive a counter is out of aliriement with respect to the upper so as not to obstruct the placing of the upper on its supporting means by the operator,

In order to facilitate the insertion of the counter in the upper the lining should be moved inwardly with respect to the upper, and mechanism for performing this function forms -another feature of the present invention. To this end the illustrated machine includes a gripper for gripping the lining at the lower portion thereof and mechanism for moving the lining gripper in timed relation with the movement of the counter inserting means to move the lining inwardly away from the upper and then back into engagement with the inserted counter. Following this movement of the lining gripper, one of the jaws thereof is moved out of engagement with the lining and the gripper is then moved outwardly away from the upper leaving the lining in engagement with the inserted counter. The lining gripper move about an axis extending substantially through the line of stitching of the lining to the upper at the rear part thereof when the upper is supported in the machine so that the lining during its movement is maintained free from wrinkles and the movement of the lining gripper about this axis forms 'another feature of the present invention.

A further object of the present invention is to provide mechanism for inserting a last or form into the upper with a rocking motion of such a character that an eflective wiping action of the lining at the rear part of the upper takes place, the last being inserted following the insertion of the counter. In the illustrated machine, a last support is positioned rearwardly of the vertically supported upper and is arranged to receive alast passed through the bottom opening of the upper and secured thereto by clamping members which centralize the last with respect to the supported upper. When sosupported, the forepart of the last extends outwardly through the bot tom opening of the upper and the heel part extends through the top opening of the upper. The last support is then moved vertically until the heel end of the last engages the gripper for the top margin of the upper, this gripper acting as a gage to insure the proper vertical positioning of the last support. The last support is then rocked about an axis extending substantially through the last adjacent to the hingethereof to move the heel end thereof toward the lower edge oi the upper and at the same time a lengthwise ten- 1 sion is applied to the upper so that the heel end of the last exerts a strong wiping action on the lining. 1

In accordance with a further feature of the invention the counter supporting grippers are arranged to exert a wiping action upon the lining of the upper after the insertion of the last. As illustrated, the inner jaws of these grippers are moved inwardly with respect to the flange of the counter after the last has been inserted in the upper and the outer faces of these jaws engage the lower margin of the lining and during the inward movement of the jaws they tend to pull the lining tightly about the last. During this inward movement of the inner jaws,

.the outer jaws are arranged to exert a pressure against the counter to move the counter toward the last. After the inner jaws have moved out of engagement with the flange of the counter the outer Jaws then move away from. the flange and the counter-inserting mechanism 'Fig. 18 and showing is then moved back to the loading position. Dur- Fig. 24 is a view taken on the line XXIV-XXIV ing the movement of the counter-supporting of Fig. 19; I

grippers away from the flange of the counter the Fig. 25 is a view taken on the line XXV-XXV lasting margin of the upper is pulled tightly over F 8- 2 the heel t of th 1 51; d the upper is then Fig. 26 is a detail side elevation of the last suptacked to the heel end of the last at a poi t porting mechanism with certain parts shown in adjacent the back seam and the upper margin cross section;

thereof. Mechanism is also provided for insert- Fig. 2? is a top view of the last supporting ing a tack through the lasting margin of the sm;

upper at the rear, through the flange of the Fig. 28 is a front elevation of the clamping counter, the lining and the heel seat of the inmembers associated with the last supporting asner sole which is attached to the bottom of the m y;

last. The arrangement of this tacking mechaz- 29 1s a view e oper tin cam for the nism form another feature of the present invenlast inserting mechanism;

tion. The upper, counter and last are now as- F 8 s a v w of the ope a i cam for the sembled and are ready for the pulling-over and lin n gripper release mechanism taken on the lasting operations. line XXX-XXX of Fig. 3; and

The above and other features of the inven- 8- 31 is a chart i r ting the various cam tion will now be more particularly described by n reference to the accompanying drawings and AS Shown i Figs. 1 to 4, the frame of the thereafter pointed out in the appended claims. machine mp s s "I. Side walls I! and In the drawings. [4, and horizontal walls l5 and I8 located adja- 1 is front elevation 1 a machine cent to the upper part of the machine, these horibodying the features of the present invention; zontal walls connecting the side walls I! and Fig 2 is a right side elevation of t machine; 14. A wall [9 connects the lower portions of the Fig 3 is a m View 01 t machine; walls I! and 14. The horizontal wall I6 is prov Fig 4 is respective v f a portion of the vided with a pair of bosses 2| and 23 for supmachine showing the upper held therein by the porting Shafts 22 d 24, respectively. The shafts various grippersand a last inserted in the upper; 22 and a held against movement in he re- Fig. 5 is a view partly in section showing the 0 232 by means of the set Screws 2.

slidable support for the toe grippers by means Rferhn g to Figs. 6 and 7, gibs 20 are secured f men ifi fi g y gg t accommodate to the lower sides of the bosses 2i and 23 and 8 er a r g 0 t 1 1 m he 81 art form therewith and with the wall IS a guideway 6 is f on g 9 for a slide 30. The rear lower part of the slide gripp r assem y or 8 k g th 11 so is provided with rack teeth :2 which mesh 7 is sectional View en e with a gear 34 fastened to a shaft 36. The shaft VII-VII of F156;, 36 is carried by means of bearings 38 and 8 1S sectmnal View the Teal (Fig.1) in the side walls I: and I4 respectively. part gripper assem y 100M118 toward the 40 A bearing 4| (Fig. 6) connected to the boss 23 of the machine;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line IX--IX of Fi 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line X-X of Fig, 8; l t

Fig. 11 is a view showing the upper held by the various grippers and the lining grippers in engagement with the lower part of the lining and the last support in its retracted position;

Fig. 12 is a view of the lining gripper assembly and the operating cam therefor taken on the'line XII-XII of Fig. 3;

Fig. 13 is a view of the resetting mechanism for the rear part grippers and the driving connections for producing lengthwise tension in the upper, this view being taken on the line XIII-XIII of Fig. 3;

Fig. 14 is a left elevation of the counter engaging and inserting mechanism in its outer-.

most position and the operating mechanism therefor;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line XV-XV of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line XVI-XVI of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a front elevation of the counter engaging and inserting mechanism shown in the inserting position;

Fig. 18 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is' a viewtakenat right angles to the side and rear grippers for the counter;

Figs. 20 to 23 are viewsshowing the side grippers for the counter in various positions;

vnally with respect to the supports the shaft intermediate its ends. A hand wheel 42 (Figs. 1 to 3) is mounted on the right end of the shaft 38 and forms means whereby the operator'may turn it the pinion 34 to adjust the slide 30 longitudishafts 22, and 24. A spring 44 (Fig. 1), secured to the wall I! of the machine, has a free end bearing against the hub of the hand wheel 42 to form a frictional brake for preventing unintentional rotation of the shaft 30.

' The slide 30 has a downwardly extending portion at the forward end thereof, as shown in Fig. 7, and is provided with a hole for receiving the shank portion 52 of a gripper jaw 54. A set screw 58 threaded into the slide holds the shank 82 rigidly in place so that the gripper jaw 54 is maintained rigid with respect thereto. This gripper jaw 54 is designed to engage the inner side of the top margin of the heel portion of the upper, and the lower part of the shank portion 52 forms a gage by means of which the distance of the top margin of the upper from the front of the machine may be predetermined.

Slidably mountedon the shank portion 52 of the gripper jaw 54 is a block 51 carrying a gripper jaw 60 which cooperates with the gripper 'jaw 54 to hold the rear part of the upper at the top margin. The block 5! is urged downwardly by a spring 62 acting between the block 58 and the slide 30. The block 5| is provided with a notch 64 in a portion thereof extended to one side of the gripper jaw 60, as shown in Fig. 6, and a latch 66. co-operates with this notch to hold the block 58 in its upper position, as illustrated in the shaft '30 and with g 2,242,251 Figs. 6 and 7. The latch- 66 is pinned to a shaft 10 journaled in the slide member 30 and a handle 12 extending forwardly of the machine is pinned to the shaft 10 at the opposite side of the slide. The latch 66 has a projection I4 at the upper end thereof against which a spring I6 seated in a relatch in a counterclockwise direction to release the block 58 when the handle 12 is moved downwardly by the operator. Upon release of the latch bythe operator the spring 62 forces the block 58 downwardly so that the gripper jaw 60 will move firmly intoengagement with an upper which has been placed on top of the gripper jaw 54.

The slide 30 and the block 58 are provided with alined vertical bores 80 and 82 for slidably supporting a tack driver 84. The upper end of they tack driver is forked at 86 and a pin 88 extends through the forked portion. The pin 88 is mounted in spaced lugs 90 carried by an operating lever 92 which is operated in a manner to be described. The slide 30 and the block 50 are also provided with alined tack delivering passageways 94 and 96, these passageways being connected by means of a tube 98 to a suitable tack delivering apparatus (not illustrated). The passageway 96 in the block 58 terminates at the bore 82 through which the tack driver 84 extends and .when the block 58 is in its retracted position, as illustrated, the lower portion of the tack driver closes the lower end of the passageway 96, thus preventing delivery of tacks from the passageway 96 to the bore 82. When the operator releases the latch 66, thus permitting downward movement of the block 58, the block moves downwardly with respect to the tack driver 82 and the'lower end of the passageway 96 moves below the lower end of the tack driver 84. The tack which has been delivered to the passageway 96 will now move into the bore 92 below the tack driver and may be retained in this position by means of springs I02 attached to each side of.

. center line of the-jaws 54 and-60, so that the tack. will not be delivered through the back seam of the upper, if the upper is properly positioned with the back seam in the line of thejaws.

Journaled on a shaft I30 (Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 13) and extending toward the front of the machine is a gripper releasing andlatch setting lever I32 having an enlarged cylindrical portion I34 intermediate the shaft I30 and the forward end thereof. This enlarged portion I34 is located plane of the center below the lateral extension I36 of the block 58 which carries. the gripper jaw 60 and this en large'd cylindrical portion of the lever is arranged to act against the block and move the block upwardly against the force of the spring 62 upon movement of the lever I32 upwardly. The lever I32 I30 and at its inner end carries a cam follower I31 (Figs, 3 and 13) which rides in the cam groove I38 cut in the side of a cam I40. This cam groove is illustrated indotted lines in Fig. 13. The cam I40 is keyed to the driven shaft I26 so that the cam I40 and the cam I24, previously described, rotate together. The cam I40 is arranged to move the lever I32 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 13) so as to lift the upper jaw 60 away from the jaw 54 subsequent to the tacking operation, The block 58 carrying the gripper jaw 60 will be moved upwardly by the lever I32 until the latch 66 engages the notch 64 of the,

The member IE0 is provided withavertically extending recess in the central portion thereof the shape of which is shown in Fig. 10. As seen in this figure the ends of the recess are cut deeper in the member I than is the central portion thereof. Slidably mounted in the deeper portions of the recess are the shank portions I52 of the gripper jaws I54. These shank-portions are connected together at their upper ends by the block 58 until the tack, driver is actuated.

The lower ends of the springs converge and form a resilient stop for preventing accidental movement of the tacks therefrom, but will yield to permit movement of tacks therebetween upon actuation of the tack driver;

The tack driver operating lever 92 has an enlarged bearing portion IIO (Figs. 3 and 6) intermediate the ends thereof and' the lever is journaled by means of this hearing on a shaft H2. The shaft H2 is mounted in bearings H4 and H6 mounted in the side walls I2 and I4 of the frame of the machine, respectively. The rear end of the lever 92 has connected thereto a cam follower I20 (Figs. 3 and 14). This cam follower rides in a cam slot I22 of the cam I24, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 14. The cam I24 is keyed to a shaft I26, driven in a manner to be later described. The shaft I26 and the cam I24 rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 14,

and at the proper time in the cycle the lever 92 driver assembly is positioned to one side of the means of a bar I56 and to the central portion of this bar is connected the upper end of an L- shaped member I50 the lower end of which extends outwardly from the supporting member I50, as indicated in Fig. 8. The outer end of the member I58 is notched at I60 and a pivoted latch member I62 co-operates with the notched portion of the L-shaped member I58 to maintain the member I 58 in the position illustrated in Fig, 8. Since the shank portions I52 of the gripper jaws I54 are connected to the L-shaped member I58 by means of the bar I56, these gripper jaws will also be maintained in the vertical position illustrated, by the latch I62. This latch is pivoted by means 'of the pivot screw I64 to the side of the supporting member I50 and is held in engagement with the notch I60 by means of the leaf spring I66 bearing against the outer surface of the latch, this spring being secured to the supporting member I50 by means of a screw I68. Extending toward the front of the machine is a handle I10 the inner end of which is secured to the latch I62-or the handle may be formed integrally with the latch. By. pressing downwardly on the handle I'I0, the latch I62 will be retracted from the notch thus permitting downward movement of this member and the gripper members I54, A spring III has one end in engagement with the bar I56 extends rearwardly from the shaft I60 of the L-shaped member I 58,- r

T slide I18 by these members together.

and the other end in engagement with a pin I12 extending through a-slide I18 and this spring moves the gripper members downwardly with respect to the slide upon release of the latch I82.

Inner gripper jaws I18 co-operate with the gripper jaws I54 to grip the lasting margin of the upper at the heel end thereof. The gripper jaws I18 are secured to the lower end of the slide I18 which slides in the outer part of the recessed portion of the supporting member I50, or that portion toward the front of the machine. Gibs I80 (Fig. are secured to the forward wall of the member I50 and co-operate with the recess to form a guideway for the slide I18, The upper portion of the slide I18 is forked, as at I82, (Fig. 8) and receives the end of an arm I84 between the forked portions thereof. A pin I86 extending through the forked portion of the slide and through the end of the arm I84 pivotally secures The other end of the arm I84 is telescopically received by the forward end of the arm 92. This permits adjustment of the gripper assembly including the gripper jaws 80 and 54 with respect to the gripper jaws I54 and I18 heightwise of the upper.

Mounted adjacent the gripper jaws I54 and between the shank portions I52 thereof is a wiper I90 (Fig. 9). This wiper is secured to the means of a spring pressed plunger I92 engaging a recess in the rear of the wiper. The sides of the wiper are cut away to embrace the shank portions I52 of the gripper jaws I54. The side of the wiper I80 toward the front of the machine is flanged, as at 200, and these flanges co-operate with the spring pressed plunger I92 to maintain the wiper in place.

The body of the wiper member I90 is provided with a vertical passageway 202 which is in alinement with a passageway 204 in the supporting member I80, the upper end of this passageway being connected to a tube 208 which is in turn connected to a tack delivery mechanism. The lower end of the passageway 202 terminates in a passageway 208 extending horizontally through the wiper member and located below the delivery end of the vertical passageway 202 is a tack positioning device 2I0 pivoted at 2I2 to the body of the wiper member. When the member 2I0 is in the position illustrated, the tack, which is delivered from the passageway 202, will lie on the surface of the member 2I0, as illustrated in Fig. 9, in which position it is inclined downwardly and forwardly with respect to the passageway 208, when the member 2I0 is turned in a counterclockwise direction, however, it will move the tack into a horizontal position in the passageway 208 whereupon it can be delivered therefrom through the surface of the wiper member I90. The member 2I0 has a tooth at the rear portion thereof which engages a recess in a pivoted member 2. The member counterclockwise direction by means of a leaf spring 2I8 to a position in which a portion bf the member extends into the passageway 208. A tack driver 220 is slidably muonted in the passageway 208 and has a cut-out portion adjacent to its forward end which permits movement of the member 2 to the position illustrated. As the tack driver 220is moved toward the right (as viewed in Fig. 9) in order to drive a tack, it will cause the member 2 to rotate in a clockwise direction until no portion thereof lies in the passageway 208, and this movement of the member 2 causes the tack positioning device 2I0 to move in a counterclockwise direction to move the tack supported thereby into a horizontal position 2 is biased in a counter flange, the lining and the innersole attached to the last which has been inserted in the upper.

The tack driver 220 is pivotally connected to an operating lever 222 which is in turn pivoted at 224 to a'bracket 228. This bracket is secured by means of screws 228 to the upper end of the slide member I18 and the lower end of the bracket is spaced from the slide member. The upper end of the lever 222 extends forwardly of the machine and is pivoted to a rod 230 the upper end of which extends through an aperture in a forwardly projecting part 232 of the bracket 226. A spring 234 engages a pin 238 in the lower end of the rod 230 and the other end of this spring bears against the under side of the projecting portion 232 of the bracket. This spring acts to urge the lever 222 in a counterclockwise direction to move the tack driver 220 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 9, to drive a tack. With the parts in the positions illustrated in Fig. 9, the lever 222 is prevented from moving aboutits pivot. For this purpose the lever 222 carries a projection 240 which engages a latch member 242 pivoted at 244 to the slide I18. The latch 242 is biased into latching position by means of the spring 248 one end of which is seated in a recess in the slide I18 and the other end of which bears against the rear part of the latch. A pin 248 extends laterally from the latch 242 and is arranged to engage a pin 250 mounted in the lower part of the fixed supporting member I50 upon downward movement of the slide to a predetermined position. As the slide moves downwardly and the projecting pin 248 on the latch 242 engages the pin 250 the latch will be moved against the force of the spring 248 and the forward end thereof will move out of engagement with the projection 240 of the operating lever 222. The lever 222 is now free to move under the influence of the spring 234 to operate the tack driver 220.

As the lever 92 is operated by the cam I24 to operate the tack driver 84 of Fig. '1 it will simultaneously cause a downward movement of the slide I18. This will take place after the lasting margin of the heel portion of the upper has been gripped by the grippers I54 and I18 and after the last has been inserted in the upper. These grippers will now move down as a unit with the slide I50 and will pull the upper tight over the last and the wiper I will wipe the upper over the heel portion of the last. As the grippers and wiper reach the lowermost position the latch 242 will be released by engagement with the pin 250 so that the lever 222 will move under the influence of the spring 234 and the tack driver will move to the right, thus positioning the tack supported on the positioning member 2I0 horizontally in the passageway 208 and driving the tack through the margin of the upper, the lining, the flange of the counter, which also will be inserted at this time by means to be described, and the innersole attached to the last.

The forward end of the arm I32 (Fig. 13) terminates in an enlarged cylindrical portion 280 which underlies the projecting portion of the L-shaped member I58, as shown in Fig. 8. As the forward end of the arm I82 is moved upwardly by the cam I40, the cylindrical portion 280 thereof will engage the projecting portion of the member I58 to move the gripper jaws I54 upwardly simultaneously with the engagement of is adjusted to the left, the gripper will be positioned to receive an upper for a right shoe.

jaws I54 so that the gripper jaws I54 will move upwardly with respect to the gripper jaws I16 to open the gripper. "The tack driving lever 222 has a shoulder 262adjacent to the'pivot 224 thereof, and this shoulder is arranged to engage a bar 264 extending across the upper forward part of the fixed supporting member I50. Accordingly, as the slide moves upwardly carrying with it the lever 222, the shoulder 262 thereof will engage the bar 264 which will cause clockwise rotation of the lever. 222 against the force of the spring 234 until the projection 240 moves into latching engagement with the latch 242. This movement of the lever 222 causes movement of the tack driver 220 back to the position illustrated The supporting block 230 is pinned to a shaft 302 (Fig. 4) which is in turn keyed to a split bearing 304. A screw 306 passes through the split portion or the bearing so that the shaft 302 in Fig. 9, which, in turn, causes movement of the tack positioning device 2) to the position illustrated for receiving a tack delivered thereto through the passageway 202.

The forepart gripper is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 11 and comprises a relatively fixed outer gripper jaw 210 and a relatively movable cooperating gripper jaw 212. These gripper jaws are carried by a support 214, the outer jaw 210 being fixedly carried thereby and the gripper jaw 212 being pivoted to the support 214 at 216. The movable gripper jaw 212 is in the form of a bell-crank lever, one end of which terminates in the gripping surface and the other end of which is connected by means of links 218 (Fig. 4) to a rod 280 which is in turn pivoted to a handle 282 pivoted to the lower part of the supporting member 214 at 284. The rod 280 extends through a bracket or guiding member 286 fixed to the forward wall of the supporting member 214, and a spring 288 surrounding the rod 280 has one end in engagement with the upper end of the bracket 286 and the other, end in engagement with the upper end of the rod 280. The rod 260 is thereby urged upwardly by the spring, whereby the gripper jaw 212 is moved toward the gripper jaw 210 to hold the toe end of an upper therebetween. In inserting an upper between the gripper jaws,

the handle 282 is moved downwardly to move the rod 280 against the force of the spring 288, which causes the jaw 212 to move away from the jaw 210.

The support 214 is slidably mounted on a. block' 290 for lateral adjustment, the support embracing three sides of the block as shown in Fig. 4, and gibs 215 connected to the top and bottom of the support embrace the back of the block 290. This block is provided with a pair of recesses 292 and 294 (Fig. 5) for selectively receiving a spring pressed plunger 296 carried by the support 214. This plunger is connected to a handle 298 and is urged toward the block by means of a spring 300. With this arrangement, the support 214 may be fixed in either of two positions for the purpose of accommodating an upper for either a right or a left shoe. With the support in the position shown in Fig. 5, the gripper is positioned to receive the forepart of an upper for a left shoe, and ifthe support 212 are on the shaft 314 which is in respect to' the arm 3, and a spring 322 acting between nuts 320 and a washer 32I urges the rod 3I6 toward the right with respect to the arm 3| 4. The inner end of the rod 3I6 is pivoted to a lever 324 fulcrumed on a shaft 326 supported by a bearing 321 in the side wall I2 oi the machine. ,The upper end of the lever 324 has connected thereto a cam follower 330 which is received by a cam groove 332 in the right side of the cam I 40, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.'

Simultaneously with the movement of a last into the upper, by mechanism to be described, the lever 324 is moved by the cam I40 in a clockwise direction which will in turn cause movement of the shaft 3I0 in a counterclockwisedirection. Since the forepart gripper jaws 210 and place. The spring 322 provides a yielding connection between the lever 324 operated by the cam I40 and the shaft 3I0 so that'the upper is subjected to a yielding lengthwise pull.

Provision is made for moving the lining away from the heel portion of the upper to facilitate insertion of a counter therein and to move the lining back into place following the insertion of a counter, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, l1, and 12. A

lining gripper jaw 350 (Fig. 11) is carried by an arm 352 and a co-operating gripper jaw 354 is pivoted at 356 to the arm 352. The inner end of the arm 352'is formed with a shoulder portion 360. A rod 362 is pivoted to the gripper jaw 354 and 364 and the other end of the rod passes through an aperture in the portion 360 of the arm 352. A spring 366 between the shoulder portion 360 of the arm and the gripper jaw 354 urges the gripper jaw 354 toward the gripper jaw 350 to hold the lower edge of a lining therebetween. A handle 360 on the jaw 354 extends toward the front of the machine and enables the operator to move the gripper jaw 354 per jaw 350 for the purpose of inserting the lower portion of the lining in the gripper.

The arm 352 at the end opposite the gripper jaw 350 is-rigidly connected to an arm 310 by means of a rod 312 (Figs. 1 and 11). The arm 310 is laterally disposed, as indicat'edin Fig. 1, with respect to the various grippers for the up per so that the arm 352 may be swung about a shaft 314 (Fig. 12) without interfering with the upper. The arm 310 is rotatably mounted side wall I2 of the frame of the machine by means of the boss 316 and the screw 318 (Fig. 1). The axis of this shaft extends substantially carried by the arm 308 extending downaway from-the gripturn connected to the 350 to release through the point of stitching between the lining and the upper at the heel end thereof so that after the lining has been gripped by the jaws 350 and 354 and'these Jaws then moved aboutthe axis of the shaft 314, the lining will move about the line of stitching as a center so that it will not wrinkle or be subjected to a stretching action during its movement. Rotatably carried by the shaft 314 arm 310 is a pinion 380 which is in engagement with a gear segment 352 carried by the end of a lever 384 (Fig. 12). The lever 384 is fuicrumed on the shaft I30 and the opposite end of the lever carries a cam follower is mounted in the cam groove keyed to the driven shaft I25. As the shaft I23 rotates in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown inFlg. 12, the lever 334 will first move me. clockwise direction, rotating the gear 333 in a counterclockwise direction, thereby moving the lining gripper through substantially 135 or to the intermediate position shown in Fig. 12. Upon continued rotation of the cam 382 the lining gripper will be moved back to the position illustrated-in full lines in Fig. 12 and upon still further rotation of the cam the gripper will move through substantialLv 180 to the upper broken line position. Before moving outwardly from theupper this second time. however, the gripper jaw 354 is moved away from the gripper jaw its hold on the lining, since at this time the counter will have been inserted between the lining and upper by means to be 380 of a cam 332 described and this last movement of the lining is toget it out of the way within the gripper through 180 to permit the insertion of a last upper.

For the purpose of opening the lining gripper,

' a release member 396 (Figs. 1 and 30) is mounted on arm 388 rotatable on the shaft 314. A pinion 400 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 314 and fixed to the arm 308. The pinion 400 engages a gear segment 402 formed at the end of a lever 404 pivoted on the shaft I30. The opposite end of the lever 404 carries a cam follower 405 which engages the cam groove 408 in the cam 392. The cam groove 408 is so designed that no movement will be imparted to the lever 404 until the lining gripper has moved the lining outwardly from the upper and has started to move the lining back. At this time the release member 385 starts to move in a counterand fixed to the- 333. This cam follower to rear of themachine and is slidably and rotatably supported in bearings 425 and 428 (Figs. 3 and 14). The rear part of the shaft 424 has longitudinally extending teeth 430 out in the lower surface thereof and these teeth are in engagement with the rack teeth 432 formed in the end of a shaft 434 extending across the rear part of the frame of the machine and siidably mounted in bearings 433 and 438 in the walls I2 and I4 of the machine, as shown in Fig. 3. The shaft 434 carries a cam follower 440 (Figs. 14 and 16) which is received by the cam groove 442 formed in the periphery of the cam I24. The cam groove 442 is so formed that as the cam I24 rotates in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 14, the supporting bracket 422 for the clockwise direction (Fig. 30) from the full-line position to the broken line position. The lower end of the rod 352 (Fig; 11) carries a laterally projecting pin 4I0 which is in the path of movement of the release member 385 when the lining' gripper is in the fullline position of Fig. 12. The member 385 is arranged to engage the pin 4" and to move the rod 332 against the force of spring 354 after the lining gripper has returned the lining to the proper position against the previously inserted counter. This downward movement of the rod 352 causes the gripper jaw 354 to move away from the gripper jaw 350 to release the hold upon the lower margin of the lining so that the lining gripper may move counter supporting mechanism 420 will be swung from the vertical position illustrated in Fig. l to a position in which the counter is somewhat below the rear portion of the upper and, upon further rotation of the cam, the bracket 422 will be swung slightly in the reverse direction to bring the counter supported thereby into alinement withv the rear portion of the upper.

Mounted on the shaft 424 intermediate the ends thereof is a member 450 provided in the lower surface thereof with the rack teeth 452. Rotation of the member 450 with the shaft 424 is prevented by the engagement of the inner flat side thereof with the outer surface of the side wall I4 of the frame of the machine as shown in Fig. 15. While the shaft 424 is rotatable with respect to the member 450, axial movement thereof with respect to this member is prevented by means of keys 454which are heldin grooves cut in the top surface of the member 450 by means of the screws 453. Eachof the keys 454 has a tooth in the bottom thereof which engages a peripheral groove 455 out in the surface of the shaft 424. Accordingly, any axial movement of the member 450 will be imparted to the shaft 424 by means of the keys 454 which hold the shaft and the member 450 against relative movement axially of the shaft.

Carried by a shaft 450 mounted in wall I4 of the frame of the machine (Figs. 14 and 15) is a gear 452 meshing with the rack teeth 452 and a second gear 454 which may be formed integral with the gear 452 meshes with a gear segment 466. This gear segment is carried by the lower end of an arm 468 keyed to theshaft I I2 to which is also keyed an arm 410 carrying at the lower end. thereof a cam follower 412 which engages a cam slot 414 out in the left side of the cam I24. As

the cam I24 rotates in a clockwise direction the The axial and rotational movements of the shaft -424 are so correlated that the shaft 424 moves the counter supporting mechanism inwardly as .it is being moved downwardly and the counter ffcarried by the supporting mechanism 420 enters upper when the supporting bracket 422 is in its lowermost position. During the last portion of the inward movement of the counter into the upper the bracket 422 is moving in the reverse 

